void traffic jams in Dubai by following some basic rules of insiders. Tourists sometimes get stuck in long lines because they are not aware of peak driving times or locations where bottlenecks are frequent. Here is a long term expat guide to driving effectively in Dubai.

Insider Guide To Avoid Traffic

Beat Office Hour Rush

Office in Dubai starts at around 8-9am. Most people live in the North part of Dubai (Deira, Bur Dubai, Nahda, etc) and travel to the South part of Dubai (Barsha, Tecom, Marina, etc). So as a tourist if you’re in the Northern part of Dubai, do not drive towards Dubai South between 7:30am – 9am otherwise you’ll be stuck because of work commuters. Similarly, do not drive from Dubai South areas to Dubai North areas between 5pm – 7pm since people will be leaving work to go home.

Check Road Works

Before leaving home, check the paper for traffic diversions. A lot of construction work leads to detours in Dubai so it’s best to check the newspaper for alternative routes. It’s best to use Google Maps to give alternative routes to beat the traffic. Also check the RTA Website for traffic updates.

Avoid traffic in residential areas of Dubai

Avoid Congested Areas

Congested residential areas can cause bottlenecks. These areas include Karama, Deira, JLT, Discovery Gardens and International City. There aren’t many tourist spots there anyway so avoid traffic while going towards those areas in order to drive smooth in quick time. If you fancy an eating spot in one of these locations, order online and get home delivery!

Use Al Khail Highway

A lot of commuters use Sheikh Zayed Road for travelling to avoid traffic. This causes traffic bottlenecks due to high number of cars and some road work. It’s better to use Al Khail Highway also known as Emirates Road or E44. That is a broader highway and also does not have Salik toll. You’ll have less congestion and will save money too.

Use Weekends Effectively

Friday morning is the best time to drive within Dubai city. This is because most people stay at home in Friday mornings. So the best city trip can be on a Friday morning. For out of city excursions to Northern Emirates, go early morning on a weekday and come back in the evening post 5pm. Avoid shopping malls and parks on Friday because families crowd out all the fun. Instead visit malls and parks on weekday mornings.

Also, make sure to check out ejarcar.com to rent a car in Dubai.